New TARN Blog: Vittoria Meissner on Frontex’s Pool of Return Experts

In January 2017, the recently reformed European Border and Coast Guard Agency (EBCG) Frontex started a pool of return experts, in order to support and expedite the return of migrants. The establishment of the pool is part of the larger reform that in October 2016 officially transformed the old EU border agency into the new EBCG through Regulation (EU) 2016/1624. The EBCG builds on the legacy of Frontex, which has now an expanded mandate and increased resources at its disposal. During negotiations prior to the adoption of the Regulation, the European Commission particularly supported an enhanced role of the Agency. As a result, today Frontex should be better equipped, in order to fulfil its expanded mandate effectively and meet challenges at the EU external borders.